About the author
Frances Hill is a writer known for her nonfiction on the Salem witch trials, most notably "A Delusion of Satan," which established her as a frequently cited popular historian of the 1692 Massachusetts trials. The catalogue includes "Hunting for Witches" (Commonwealth Editions, 2002), a guidebook recounting the events of the trials alongside more than fifty sites associated with them that readers can visit today, and "The Salem Witch Trials Reader" (Da Capo Press, 2000), an edited collection of primary source material and scholarship on the episode. Hill's work sets the trials within the pressures of Puritan New England, including fears of damnation, conflict with Indigenous peoples, and smallpox, that let a small group of girls' accusations escalate into mass prosecution. Her books serve both general readers and travelers interested in Salem's historic sites.
📖 Where to start with Frances Hill
💬 What our editors say about Frances Hill's books
“While this text provides a rigorous examination of primary sources, it may not suit readers seeking a purely fictionalized drama or sensationalist ghost stories. It is a historical analysis, not a novel. Readers expecting simple…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Salem Witch Trials Readers
“Hill delivers a compelling blend of historical exposé and travel guide, shedding new light on the human drama of 17th-century New England. While the research is meticulous and the locations are fascinating for those seeking a…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Hunting for Witches
